Development of Computational Aeroacoustics Tools for Airframe Noise Calculations

This paper discusses the development of computational aeroacoustics (CAA) tools for airframe noise analysis and prediction. We review recent progress in this topic, but emphasize our vision for the future development of such tools. Our intention is for this vision to drive future CAA research in directions that will accelerate widespread use of CAA for airframe noise applications. We discuss the needs for accuracy, efficiency, and easy interface with other design tools and illustrate how CAA tools may help future aircraft design. We explain what appears to be achievable in a 20-year time frame, and what goals will probably take longer.

Important barrier issues include the effects of numerical dispersion and dissipation, the treatment of highly curved, irregular boundary surfaces, and grid generation. Beyond these largely numerical issues, we discuss the role of physics-based modeling, including turbulence modeling in unsteady flow computations and the importance of developing sophisticated techniques for analyzing results of computations. Numerical simulations combined with the acoustic analogy methodology to predict noise are also reviewed. Finally, we discuss how to use recent advances in measurement techniques for CAA tool validation, which is an integral part of future development.